"Volunteer" is journalise. Prince Charles is responsible for the expenses of the "Wales" household - all 5 of them. This isn't a case of him being strong-armed as there will be an allowance. I would put money on the fact that she is operating well within it. And there will be additional expenditure this year because of the tour in September.

It's interesting that they are not going for the cost-reduction model of taking freebies and mega-discounts. Not getting drawn into the world of owing favours at any price.

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This precious stone set in the silver sea,......This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,

If this information (Duchy of Cornwall accounts) is about to be published, then it is for the whole of the financial year 2011/2012 (April/March). This will include the clothes required for the trip to Canada and the US, as well as (I agree)the limited number of public events between September 2011 to March 2012. I'm surprised its only c.£35,000 as it includes 5 or 6 evening dresses. She has also worn clothes that she bought prior to the wedding (ie coat to Zara's wedding) and I assume she paid for those.

Diana never had to put up with this as it was mainly couture and there was more discretion about saying how much everything cost.

This is really about her not pulling her weight as a royal

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This precious stone set in the silver sea,......This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,

^So she should be out there more than William and Harry? (base on the official engagement tread she has been)

I think she should.

Sorry for off topic comment but I think that this is the DM pushing the cost of Catherine in comparison with the work she does. IT's already been mentioned on here, the DM posts are saying it and (no surprise) the Daily Telegraph have also mentioned the cost and some posts are saying the same. The next thing will be "Is Kate value for money?"

I personally don't have a problem with the expenditure and I think its a fudge figure anyway because unless the Duchy itemises clothing in its accounts (which would surprise me) it could be the increase in overall expenditure yr on yr being translated as the cost of Catherine.

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This precious stone set in the silver sea,......This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,

I wonder how many hand made suits, shoes etc will be covered by 35.000 GBP in Charles's clothing budget three or four?
So paying for Kate's clothes is like petty cash to him.

Plus, William seems to own only one suit, a tuxedo and a morning suit and that's about it. Since William isn't buying £3k suits every month Kate can choose some designer duds along with the high street stuff.

I honestly don’t see why it’s anyones business how much Kate spends on her clothes. It’s not like the public pays for it. As far as I know Charles paid for it out of his own pocket. What they do with their own money is their concern.

Sorry for off topic comment but I think that this is the DM pushing the cost of Catherine in comparison with the work she does. IT's already been mentioned on here, the DM posts are saying it and (no surprise) the Daily Telegraph have also mentioned the cost and some posts are saying the same. The next thing will be "Is Kate value for money?"

I personally don't have a problem with the expenditure and I think its a fudge figure anyway because unless the Duchy itemises clothing in its accounts (which would surprise me) it could be the increase in overall expenditure yr on yr being translated as the cost of Catherine.

That's not why the DM is doing it. If that was the case they would mention the cost of William and Harry outfits, watch, wellies, etc. The DM would be pushing the cost even if she did has many engagement as the Queen.

And if she start doing more royal engagement than William the Daily Mail would be leading the charge of William is not fit to be King. They might even throw in a line about how Diana would be disappointed in him.

If some of the things about how much Princess Mary spend on clothes is to go by, by what is posted online than I doubt these post would change if Catherine start doing the same amount of engagement as Charles

Plus, William seems to own only one suit, a tuxedo and a morning suit and that's about it. Since William isn't buying £3k suits every month Kate can choose some designer duds along with the high street stuff.

He must own multiple pairs of that blue suit. Since he wore it everyday on his Canadian tour, unless he sent it to the dry cleaners every night.

I honestly don’t see why it’s anyones business how much Kate spends on her clothes. It’s not like the public pays for it. As far as I know Charles paid for it out of his own pocket. What they do with their own money is their concern.

Exactly, its not like she is running around spending a fortune at Armani, Prada, Valentino and Elie Saab. She wears British designers and British high street fashion. When she wears something copies of it almost immediately sell out thus boosting British fashion and retail sales. She looks good and is always appropriately dressed for the events she attends. Since her father in law is paying for it, as he does for the entire Wales branch of the BRF, it seems like much ado about nothing. Slow news day?

Why should we even care how much Kate, Eugenie and Beatrice spend on outfits. They are nice but prices ranging from low to high some aren't even available here in the US.

I was just saying, if they are going to list the amount Catherine spend on outfits (which the annual review doesn't state, which mean the DM came up with that calculation themselves), than they should be consistent and list the cost for all the members of the BRF.

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Originally Posted by NGalitzine

Exactly, its not like she is running around spending a fortune at Armani, Prada, Valentino and Elie Saab. She wears British designers and British high street fashion. When she wears something copies of it almost immediately sell out thus boosting British fashion and retail sales. She looks good and is always appropriately dressed for the events she attends. Since her father in law is paying for it, as he does for the entire Wales branch of the BRF, it seems like much ado about nothing. Slow news day?

It's just the cycle of the press when it come to the Cambridge. It's goes, William and Catherine are feeling broody, Catherine is pregnant, Catherine recycle her shoes too much, Catherine apparently spend too much money, the public want William to be the next King, etc. Rinse, Wash and Repeat

Exactly, its not like she is running around spending a fortune at Armani, Prada, Valentino and Elie Saab. She wears British designers and British high street fashion. When she wears something copies of it almost immediately sell out thus boosting British fashion and retail sales. She looks good and is always appropriately dressed for the events she attends. Since her father in law is paying for it, as he does for the entire Wales branch of the BRF, it seems like much ado about nothing. Slow news day?

Absolutely agree. It's too bad the media is so intent on stirring up resentment. Those who are referred to as jealous get very heated up about being accused of that but there is NO DOUBT that there is a segment of population that is truly disgustingly resentful. It must be a very unpleasant way to live and feel.

A few designers have complained that Kate doesn't wear enough designer gear; that she should leave Zara alone and go much more upscale. Even the Daily Mail's own Liz 'sperm stealer' Jones wrote an entire article about how Kate should ditch the £185 LK Bennets for the £600 shoes of some up and coming British designer.

Kate has got a decent mix going at the moment. Some of it's high street, some of it's couture. She has repeated many of her outfits (much to the DM's annoyance), and even worn clothes that she's owned since long before her engagement. She hasn't done what some princesses have and simply bought almost the entire Prada collection every season. She doesn't have a dresser or a stylist and gets it right most of the time.